Swiss magazine Encore highlights the Spirit of Ponant in its May 2025 issue, with an exclusive feature dedicated to a luxury catamaran cruise in the Seychelles.
The journalist shares her onboard experience, navigating through the Seychelles’ turquoise waters, exploring wild and secluded anchorages, and immersing herself in a refined lifestyle at sea. She describes magical moments in crystal-clear lagoons, visits to hidden coves only accessible by water, encounters with sea turtles and tropical fish, along with the exceptional service, the Seychellois chef’s gourmet cuisine, and the uniquely intimate atmosphere aboard.
The article showcases:
-Five-star comfort on a luxury catamaran,
-Fine local cuisine curated by a Seychellois chef,
-Personalized and discreet service,
-And an eco-conscious approach, with optimized sailing navigation and reduced emissions.
-A true slow travel experience in the Indian Ocean, this exclusive cruise reflects the industry’s evolution toward sustainable sea travel, far from mass tourism and closer to nature and authentic local culture.
"Sometimes, postcards come to life" writes the journalist, describing the emotion felt when anchoring in one of the catamaran’s secret coves. A journey aboard the Spirit of Ponant is more than a cruise — it’s a serene, beautiful escape filled with marine discoveries.
? Read the full feature in Encore Magazine – May 2025.
XXS Cruises: Ultra-Luxury Sets Sail in an Intimate Setting
At the Seychelles, at Anse Marron, the scenery seems unreal. Zebra fish circle around the legs, yellowtail emperors glide between silver damsels, and the palm trees whisper in the breeze. This little corner of paradise, inaccessible by foot, reveals itself by sea, in an isolation worthy of an adventure novel. It is here that the Spirit of Ponant docks, a tiny floating five-star hotel, showcasing a new trend in the cruise world: ultra-luxury on a human scale.[...]
This 25-meter catamaran, built at the Bordeaux shipyard Lagoon, offers six elegant cabins for only twelve travelers. On board: a captain, a first mate, a Seychellois cook, and a hostess. The experience is intimate, tailor-made, and resolutely focused on exploration.[...]
On board the Spirit, the sea is savored slowly. After a swim in crystalline waters, passengers enjoy a snapper caught that very morning. John Rosette, the chef, prepares coconut octopus (zourite) or a carpaccio of fish freshly arrived from a neighboring pirogue. Far from standardized buffets, here, cooking follows the rhythm of the tides.[...]
To sail like this is to reconnect with the essence of travel: slow, discreet, respectful. A luxury without noise, drifting along the waves.
